Are there benefits to religious belief and participation?

Introduction

Recently several books written by prominent authors have been published that attack religious belief as a pernicious delusion. The four most prominent authors are Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens, who collectively are often called the “new atheists” [Dawkins2006; Dennett2006; Harris2006; Hitchens2007]. In his book, prominent biologist Richard Dawkins asks us . . . → Read More: Are there benefits to religious belief and participation?

Criminology, sports drug testing and evolution

DNA evidence in forensics

On March 18, 2013, a Florida man was found guilty of burglary and criminal damage to property, in an attempt to steal an ATM machine from a store. But the burglar had dropped his hat, and subsequent analysis of DNA in the hat matched that of a suspect. Based on this . . . → Read More: Criminology, sports drug testing and evolution

The last Japanese WWII holdout: A lesson for creationists

The saga of Hiroo Onoda

March 2013 is the 39th anniversary of a curious milestone of 20th century military history: On March 9, 1974, nearly 29 years after World War II supposedly ended with the Japanese surrender, Hiroo Onoda, the last Japanese holdout, turned over his sword and rifle to his commanding officer and ceased . . . → Read More: The last Japanese WWII holdout: A lesson for creationists

Did God create the world through evolution?

Introduction

Many religious fundamentalists reject the notion (adopted by many scientists as well as theologians) that God accomplished the creation of the earth or even the entire universe indirectly through natural processes. More to the point, these fundamentalists deny that God accomplished the creation of life on earth via an evolutionary process.

Typical of those . . . → Read More: Did God create the world through evolution?

Who are more stubborn? Fundamentalists or atheists?

Recently (on 12 Feb 2013), well-known MIT physicist Max Tegmark, together with co-authors Eugene Lee and Meia Chita-Tegmark, released results of a new study on science, religion and origins. See also Max Tegmark’s Huffington Post article summarizing these findings.

It is well-known that, according to a recent Gallup poll, approximately 46% of Americans believe that . . . → Read More: Who are more stubborn? Fundamentalists or atheists?

Have scientists found any evidence for the origin of life?

Introduction

Both creationist and intelligent design writers assert that science has yet to understand the origin of life, and further claim that this is a fatal flaw in evolutionary theory [Behe1996; Dembski1998].

It is true that as of the present time, scientists do not yet fully understand biogenesis (as the origin of life is often . . . → Read More: Have scientists found any evidence for the origin of life?

How accurate are radioactivity-based geological dates?

Introduction

A 2009 poll found that 39% of Americans agreed that “God created the universe, the earth, the sun, moon, stars, plants, animals and the first two people within the past 10,000 years” [Bishop2010].

Needless to say, such notions are completely in conflict with modern scientific research. Radiometric dating schemes used in geology and paleontology . . . → Read More: How accurate are radioactivity-based geological dates?

Academic plagiarism and evolution

Introduction

Plagiarism, namely the copying of text or ideas of others, without explicit citation and/or permission, is considered a serious breach of ethics in the academic world. Even copying with permission is a breach of ethics in many environments, such as classroom instruction, where original, independent work is required of each individual. Nowadays many leading . . . → Read More: Academic plagiarism and evolution

Disclaimer and copyright notice

Material on this site is provided for purposes of academic research, and does not necessarily reflect views of the editor’s employer, funding agencies, religious affiliation or any other organization. Also, inclusion of material (articles, quotations, excerpts) on this website does not necessarily indicate that the editor endorses that material. Where articles have authors indicated, those . . . → Read More: Disclaimer and copyright notice

Is nature entirely “red in tooth and claw”?

Introduction

One aspect of nature in general and evolutionary theory in particular that gives many Judeo-Christian believers some pause is its reliance on forms of competition that in many cases we would consider cruel. Parasites often destroy their living hosts from within. Female spiders, in many cases, devour their mates. And anyone who has watched . . . → Read More: Is nature entirely “red in tooth and claw”?